India’s defence preparations, as reflected in its recent defence budget, are a source of concern to Pakistan. The defence budget of 1.41 trillion rupees (US$28.3 billion), about 2.4 per cent of Gross National Product, marks a 24 per cent increase over the last year’s defence outlay. It devours 15 per cent of the overall central budget for the fiscal year (April 1, 2009 to 31 March 2,010).

The defence allocations exclude outlay allocated to India’s defence ministry (about Rs. 1,666 billion or US$ 33.3 billion). The purpose is to deflate actual defence provision as a proportion of the country’s GNP. Likewise the expenditure on nuclear production and space projects is not shown under defence-budget head of account. The accounting jugglery enables India to conceal enormous expenditure on naval dockyards, defence-related machine tools and electronic industry, border and strategic road, and para-military forces.

The real increase in defence budget comes to over 34 per cent if we take into account the outlays of defence nature concealed in civil ministries’ budgets. The defence budget is presented as ‘interim’. It is said that the final budget would be presented by the party that wins power in the imminent general elections around July 2009. In view of the trend perpetuated by past budgets, there is no possibility that the colossal defence budget will be slashed to stash out greater outlay for social sector programmes , particularly those aiming at alleviation of poverty in rural area. It is a slap on shiny face of India that millions of its people continue to live under the poverty line (about $1 a day) while defence budget is routinely hiked each year.

The outlay for revenue expenditure stands at Rs. 868 billion ($17.3 billion) as against whopping capital outlay of Rs. 548 billion ($ 10.9 billion). Pakistan’s president has rightly drawn attention of the powers that matter, to Pakistan’s need for generous financial aid. Without money, Pakistan cannot fight any asymmetrical (anti-terrorist) or symmetrical (conventional or nuclear) war. As such, the nuclear threshold to outbreak of a nuclear conflagration would be lowered.

It is unfortunate that self-styled experts like Kilcullen have predicted collapse of Pakistan as a country within the next six months. He envisions that Pakistan’s nuclear bombs, around 100, may fall into hands of religious militants. He says, “The collapse of Pakistan, al-Qaeda acquiring nuclear weapons, an extremist takeover-that would dwarf everything we’ve seen in the war on terror today”. The US report `World at Risk’, also, presents a gloomy picture of the prevailing politico-economic situation. No country likes to make a public disclosure of its nuclear policy. Such a policy would naturally require comparing one’s own nuclear capability (arsenal of bombs) with that of one’s adversary. Too, scenarios justifying use of atomic weapons have to be specified.

Even the USA, which dropped A-bombs on Japan, and other de jure nuclear powers have kept mum about their nuclear policy. Some countries follow an official policy of strict opacity with regard to their nuclear programs, their status, projections and perspective use of weapons. Israel is a case in point. Others have a translucent nuclear policy.

The official mumbo jumbo, as is the case with India, states that the country would never be the first to use nuclear weapons. However, its nuclear build-up, even before signing of the 123 Agreement, has been continuing at a feverish pace. She wants to equip her navy with nuclear submarines and nuclear warheads. Advanced RADAR systems are being purchased to disable Pakistan’s fore-seeing capability. Arms and ammunitions are being purchased from multiple sources to bring about all-round improvement in capability of her all the three defence services. Her army is digging NBC-attack-protected tunnels in forward areas along the unresolved borders with Pakistan and China, as a bulwark against counterstrikes by the adversaries. The last-mentioned event should be an eye-opener for India’s neighbours. Obviously, India is preparing for NBC warfare.

The “tunneling technology for developing hardened shelters” was the main agenda item discussed at the Indian commanders’ conference, chaired by General Deepak Kapoor. The conference was attended by chiefs of all the seven commands and other top brass of the 1.13-million army. The conference remained focused on India and China.

It is significant to note that the idea of constructing tunnels in border areas had been mooted by the Udhampur-based Northern Command. This operational command is responsible for guarding the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China in the western sector, as also undertaking counter-insurgency operations in occupied Kashmir.

Overhead shielding by earth to troops in tunnels not only protects troops from possible nuclear attacks but also from shock waves thereof and, as such, minimises exposure to gamma and neutron radiation. An added advantage of the tunnels would be incapacitation of hostile satellite observation of troops’ positions to gauge force levels in forward areas. Tunnels would also be used to establish command and control centres to direct operations during times of war. Even helicopters could be positioned in subterranean tunnels to launch surprise attacks, or undertake reconnaissance missions. While blacking out its own troops’ concentrations

Pakistan’s meagre resources do no allow it to match its next-door neighbour in defence expenditure. Its onslaught against religious militants is being weakened by lack of funds. Because of frustration at lack of economic opportunities, more and more people are getting allured to the extremist views. Pakistan is in dire need of economic and military aid. Through this help, it could fight out havens of terrorists, and improve lot of the common man. The aid would also enable Pakistan to maintain a robust, credible, and secure nuclear deterrent against India.

New Delhi, June 01: MM Pallam Raju, Minister of State for Defence after taking charge of his office on Monday said that India is keeping an eye on growing influence of China in Pakistan and other neighbouring countries and steps are taken that it does not pose a threat to India.

"There is no shortfall in preparedness from our side in this regard. Chinese influence is not just in Pakistan. They are trying to develop a port in Sri Lanka and in Myanmar. And we are well aware of all these developments. We are taking steps that Chinese influence does not pose a threat," said Raju.

China and Pakistan have helped Sri Lanka in its action against the LTTE.

China is also helping Sri Lanka build the Hambantota port, which many see as part of Beijing''s "String of Pearls" strategy of building relations with countries along sea-lanes from the Middle East to the South China Sea.

China recently built a Civil Service Hospital in Nepal and said that would continue the economic and technical assistance to Nepal.

India concerned over Pak's N-arms stockpile

Raju also expressed concern over US reports that Pakistan was having a large nuclear weapon stockpile and wanted the international community to exert pressure on it to cap its nuclear capability.

"We (India) are concerned because they (Pakistan) are crossing the minimum deterrent threshold. We hope that the international pressure will be exerted on Pakistan to make sure that they retain only minimum deterrence levels," Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju told reporters here, soon after assuming office for the second term.

"We (India) also have the second strike and deterrence capability. But our stated policy is no-first-use as far as nuclear weapon is concerned. Only retaliatory strike. I am glad that Pakistan is also thinking on the lines of second strike and are behaving like a responsible state," Raju said to a question.India prepared to face any Chinese threat: Raju

The article is also missing a lot of things like 3 more phalcons ordered, Indigenous AEW&C the P8I, MTA and all. They arent mentioning the attack choppers too.

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Thanks Satish, I noticed that too while going through link and personally believe that the author depended upon the older data while writing the article and that's why I chose not to comment on the article my self and same time also opine that when a journalist gives an account from a country's perspective and while writing on a abroad based journal he or she should come out with more facts and information as of latest and that is the quality of a good journalist. However , I hope that the current Govt. will be able to deliver when time needs.

The interim budget for the year 2009-2010 raised defense expenditures by 34% from $211 billion last year to $283 billion in 2009-2010. The outlay includes nearly $110 billion for capital expenditure.

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The correct numbers are:
The interim budget for the year 2009-2010 raised defense expenditures by 34% from $21.1 billion last year to $28.3 billion in 2009-2010. The outlay includes nearly $11 billion for capital expenditure.

This article has opened my eyes. I will never see our defence expenditure in the same lig..

*notices "Pakistani Observer"*

.. move along people, nothing to see here (ok, maybe a new style of begging, but India never needed that ability unlike 'you know who'). I propose we create a "Humor Section" and start posting such articles there.

Pakistan Observer - Newspaper online edition - Article
In view of the trend perpetuated by past budgets, there is no possibility that the colossal defence budget will be slashed to stash out greater outlay for social sector programmes , particularly those aiming at alleviation of poverty in rural area. It is a slap on shiny face of India that millions of its people continue to live under the poverty line (about $1 a day) while defence budget is routinely hiked each year.

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It will be an even bigger slap in the face of all Indians if we allow such propaganda to take attention away from the fact that we share our borders with 2 hostile, nuclear nations

The outlay for revenue expenditure stands at Rs. 868 billion ($17.3 billion) as against whopping capital outlay of Rs. 548 billion ($ 10.9 billion). Pakistan’s president has rightly drawn attention of the powers that matter, to Pakistan’s need for generous financial aid. Without money, Pakistan cannot fight any asymmetrical (anti-terrorist) or symmetrical (conventional or nuclear) war. As such, the nuclear threshold to outbreak of a nuclear conflagration would be lowered.

It is unfortunate that self-styled experts like Kilcullen have predicted collapse of Pakistan as a country within the next six months. He envisions that Pakistan’s nuclear bombs, around 100, may fall into hands of religious militants. He says, “The collapse of Pakistan, al-Qaeda acquiring nuclear weapons, an extremist takeover-that would dwarf everything we’ve seen in the war on terror today”. The US report `World at Risk’, also, presents a gloomy picture of the prevailing politico-economic situation. No country likes to make a public disclosure of its nuclear policy. Such a policy would naturally require comparing one’s own nuclear capability (arsenal of bombs) with that of one’s adversary. Too, scenarios justifying use of atomic weapons have to be specified.

Click to expand...

So, Pakistan's lack of prowess in acquiring conventional arms would force Pakistan to lower its nuclear threshold thus ensuring a MAD scenario, BUT we should not say that Pakistan may collapse

The official mumbo jumbo, as is the case with India, states that the country would never be the first to use nuclear weapons. However, its nuclear build-up, even before signing of the 123 Agreement, has been continuing at a feverish pace. She wants to equip her navy with nuclear submarines and nuclear warheads. Advanced RADAR systems are being purchased to disable Pakistan’s fore-seeing capability. Arms and ammunitions are being purchased from multiple sources to bring about all-round improvement in capability of her all the three defence services. Her army is digging NBC-attack-protected tunnels in forward areas along the unresolved borders with Pakistan and China, as a bulwark against counterstrikes by the adversaries. The last-mentioned event should be an eye-opener for India’s neighbours. Obviously, India is preparing for NBC warfare.